By Nnedinma Okeke
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Pharm Chisom Uchem in a Stakeholders engagement meeting organised by ASPHCDA, State Ministry of Health, and Partners on Measles-Rubella Vaccination (MRV) campaign urged for spread of the MRV messages to communities/grassroots.
Pharm Uchem emphasized this while speaking to Stakeholders which includes; Traditional Rulers, Representatives of Christian and Muslim Communities, President Generals, Women Leaders, Red Cross, Representatives of National Orientation Agency (NOA), and Line Ministries of Information, Education, Women Affairs, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and ASUBEB.
She expressed gratitude to them for their continued partnership with the Agency in ensuring success of its immunization campaigns across the state and workings to ensure no eligible child is left behind/unimmunized.
Speaking on the forthcoming Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign scheduled to commence in Anambra State from February 4 to 15, 2026 for eligible children aged nine months to 14 years, the ES urged the stakeholders to aid with their platforms and ensure their various communities were informed.
Consultant Paediatrician and Resource Person at the engagement meeting, Dr. Chinenye Uju educated the stakeholders on immunization, its benefits, causes of low immunization, dangers of lack of immunization, and Adverse Effects Following Immunization (AEFI).
She enlightened them on why vaccination was important, urging them to play their roles in ensuring that the Measles-Rubella vaccination gets to every eligible child.
The Representative of National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Pharm Obunike Okonkwo, reaffirming Partners support to the state in ensuring success of the MRV campaign urged for stakeholders commitment to ensure the state achieves its target with no child left unimmunized.
The UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change (SBC) Consultant, Mr. Victor James noted that the health of indigenes and all living in the state is a responsibility for all which was reason for the stakeholders involvement in immunization campaigns.
He explained that scientific medical innovations has helped to create ways of disease prevention through vaccinations which aids prevent diseases such as Measles-Rubella.
“If we know an infectious disease, its cause and mode of prevention; that disease should not happen in our society,” he explained.
He encouraged all stakeholders to play their roles and work to ensure that no child in Anambra gets infected with the Measles-Rubella disease after the February 4 to 15 MRV campaign in the State.
The meeting also had in attendance State team and Partners.
Nnedinma is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
